Alela Diane

is a young singer-songwriter born in Nevada City now living in Portland playing her acoustic guitar with a picking style, singing with a voice not too dissimilar to Joanna Newsom and wallowing in melodies from wonderland. Who would have thought in 1980 that we would embrace magical folk songs like these in the 21st century? But then, Ms. Diane is definitely from another world.

«Metal Heart» by Cat Power reminds me of sitting in Marie's car when we were in high school. We drove around in her volvo quite a lot back then, and she always had an amazing mix tape we'd listen to.

best Bob Dylan song

Bob Dylan - Lay Lady Lay

I have a brass bed because of this song.

a song guaranteed to make you feel depressed

John Prine - Sam Stone

In it he sings «There's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes». It doesn't get any darker than that.

record you were looking for the longest

Joni Mitchell - Blue

This has never happen to me! More often, I am one to stumble upon records randomly... I'm no collector. I was touring with Simone White in the United Kingdom when I bought «Blue» by Joni Mitchell because I just bumped into it in a shop. I know that record for a long time but never had a copy. It was funny because when I played it Simone went «Ahhh...». She has a really special relationship with that record. We listened to it a lot while on the road.

a record you fell in love to

Neil Young - After The Gold Rush

My husband and I listened to that when we first met and I was living in a log cabin back in Nevada City. Now we live in Portland but of course I still have this record. I like vinyl records and our stereo is quite old. It’s a mishash of various parts we got from somewhere, the amp for example once belonged to my uncle.

first record you remember

Patsy Cline - Walking After Midnight

I remember my mom and I would listen to Patsy Cline while making dinner – we would sing along to «Walking After Midnight».

a song that evokes the greatest summer of your life

Loudon Wainwright III - The Swimming Song

It starts: «This summer I went swimming, this summer I might have drowned, but I held my breath and I kicked my feet...» It's the ultimate song to listen to on the way to the river in the heat of July.

your ultimate heartbreak song

Kate Wolf - You're Not Standing Like You Used To

It is a sad, sad tune.

perfect anthem for Nevada?

Casual Fog - Bitchin' Majestic

This is a song my friend wrote about the annual camping trip we have every summer back home. It's hilarious, and very much a Nevada City song. It's a shame I have one of maybe 10 copies of it.

your party anthem

Michael Jackson - Thriller

first record you bought

The Shangri-Las

The first record I had was a tape by The Shangri-Las. My friend Lindsey and I would lip synch to it back in 1988 or so. The first record I bought on my own was when I was 12 – it was Hanson.

a song you would use as a ring-tone

Scott Walker - Duchess

This was my ring tone until everything on my phone deleted itself tragically.

a song to seduce you

Townes Van Zandt - I'll Be Here In The Morning

It's beautiful.

a song you would send over the ocean

Led Zeppelin - Going to California

I always listen to this song when I am overseas and missing my homeland.

your sunday morning song

Paul Simon - Duncan

This song is perfect for lazy mornings of coffee and making breakfast at home. But normally on a sunday there isn’t so much music played in our house. It’s more common that you hear me singing and working on new songs.

a song you wish you'd written yourself

Dolly Parton - Jolene

It's such an amazing song. Right now I’m listening to Dylan LeBlanc. He’s very young but has songs that make you go «wow!».

Julia Franck

take these three CDs/records with you:
Klavierkonzerte von Beethoven in der Einspielung von Gu...

Finger Magazine

Issue 6

News

Chromatics: Kill For Love

The Chromatics are finally back. After their very promising debut they took some time to come back with an album that finally shows the full potential of what Johnny Jewel & co is capable of. Where «In The City» left off ...